Tuesday, 30 June 2009

One o clock and its just started raining here in Penzance which is good because it means I can get in my studio and work on another Barcelonetta for my next show,Its been to hot in there recently . This morning though I went to Newlyn again and did a mornings Plein air work. I`m glad I did.

Monday, 29 June 2009

This morning I went to Hayle Estuary.The light was brilliant and changed as the morning went on so this painting became two paintings as I adjusted the colours for the change. Its ok as a first draft to get familiar with the colours so I intend to go back tomorrow with the knowledge of today under my belt and try again. I met a lovely couple from New Zealand who wanted to see what I was up to. She give me a Christian booklet which I accepted with gratitude. So what do you think? Should I go back to studio painting where I can control the light and invent things or should I stay put and paint what I see in front of my eyes in the open air.I think the styles are different so after the Summer is over hopefully I will be able to incorporate the Plein air work into my studio work.

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Today was a challenge. It was hazy and windy here in Penzance so I went to the north coast where it was sunny and windy. I found a great spot but the sun was behind me so I was painting on a bright white canvas and it was windy with sand blowing about so I had to hold on for dear life. An easel would have blown away. This is a very difficult subject as simple but complex with lots of white buffy pale colours, and here it is .

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Today again i`ve been trying to get away from this frozen state i`m in. All in a mix about oil and acrylic. So I took my acrylics out Plein air painting and seem to be through my stuckness. I am much more familiar and confident with this medium .The only draw back for me is that it is or can be very dry. However. I have to know my limitations so I am pleased with what I have done and intend to go out again. This is a 16x16 inch canvas that I hold in my left hand while I paint with my right. Plein air painting is like the wild west you never know what problems will occur and the light it totally uncontrollable unlike the studio.

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

I wanted to post this as it shows just how bad it gets. I was completely frozen today between going out Plein air painting and staying in Studio painting. I even got so far as to load my stuff into the car. Oh! and I drove off. But the studio was calling me to work on my figures in oil. What a mess.

Monday, 22 June 2009

Hammamet is in Tunisia and is a scruffy little town with a lot of charm. I loved it there.This painting is destined for the Paragon Gallery in Exeter where I have a show with Jude Freeman who does excellent mosaics.

Sunday, 21 June 2009

This is one of my `Gallery Paintings` I love doing these they are light delicate acrylics which is almost like using watercolour and they are bright.I have been working on this over the past couple of days. I`m going to do another Gallery painting on the side tomorrow which is a relief from the struggle s I have with oil painting.

For the past 3 yrs we have had stick insects living in our Garden. Apparently they came here 80 yrs ago from New Zealand landing on the Scilly Isles and taking up residence there. They then somehow got on the ferry or maybe the helicopter and found there way to Penzance. There are also pockets in Truro and surrounding villages and Southern Ireland. THIS ONE IS 7 INCHES LONG!! We have baby ones brown ones and green ones.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

In studio today privately working on being free with the imagery in my head from the outdoor work.People are still a problem. I want to put them in but they look so wooden. Will go out Plein air and get more practice.

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Today I learn`t a lesson .I don`t actually know what I`m doing!. I am completely out of my pond. I started out doing a thick alla Prima painting and finished a second painting doing a much thinner study . I enjoyed the study better. (posted). Doing this study felt much better and leads me on to think of Studio painting possibilities.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

I took this shot the moment I stepped out of the car ,as you can see it looks a little grey but when I started painting the sun came out, the shirts came off and the Regatta came to Town. Oh! and the Wedding. What luck Eh!

Penzance today was overcast but warm with a Southerly but St Ives on the North coast was like the Cote D`Azure. The sea was milky green,there was a wedding on the beach and a Regatta was in full display just as I sat down to paint.What heaven is this I thought .I spent an hour and here is the result. I may work on it as it does need some work and I know my painting technique is a bit crude but I like oil and want to persevere for now.Even if I do go back to acrylic at least I have new subject matter to work on just by getting out of the Studio.And the boost it has given me...

Friday, 12 June 2009

Its been raining today so I am in the studio. What to do??? I started doing a pic from a photo but it was impossible so I thought I would continue with my work from Porthmeor only on a larger canvas and changing the green shadows into Blue. This is state of play a 3pm

Thursday, 11 June 2009

I`ve got to tell you there are two sides of me. Theres the wimp who say`s " No I cant do it ,I`m just not that kind of bloke" and theres the man inside that say`s "of course you can do it. You have to do it". and that's basically how the conversation in my head went all the way to St Ives Porthmeor Beach this morning. I knew it would be packed with holiday makers and it was. There was even another real Professional artist who had set up the whole nine yards with an easel and all on the beach. I wasn`t going to let him show me up or be threatened by the professional style. I found a lovely big Yew tree to sit under and off I went. What fun . I did it.

Today I went down to the Promenade in Penzance Sea front. My car is out of action so I had to walk which for me was a long way with lots of breaks. I`ve bought a shopping trolley to put all my kit in which I will post a pic of later. £12.99 at Jim`s cash and carry.These are all people that walked by as I was sat there. One little girl with her mother wanted to see what I was doing and I put her in , wish I`d asked her name now!. Lots of dog walkers and walkers. Fishing boats and even a helicopter that was returning from the Scillies. The lifeboat was on standby in the bay and Fisherman were catching fish,one presumes.I was out catching paintings.

Saturday, 6 June 2009

Lorraine and I, that's my wife to the uninitiated,went out for dinner. Gran came round to look after the kids and off we went to the Renaissance overlooking the Harbour. Its great as the view is the best in Penzance Town .The Palms the car park the boats perfectly still on the evening high tide with the Scillonian moored on the far wharf ,and a full evening moon. It was like Cannes with that honeyed evening pinky glow.The waitress was just great. Well actually her name was Marge and she runs the business it turns out.Usually I feel embarrassed talking to waitresses but this time I felt very relaxed. Lorraine just wanted to jaw with anyone intelligent who was willing to reciprocate and boy could she reciprocate I think she was talking for the whole nation. Anyway I saw a lovely painting and vow to return and do a watercolour to make up into an oil.I`ll keep you posted.

I went to Newlyn again but this time to the green by the Newlyn Art Gallery overlooking the fishing Port.When I first came to Cornwall I enquired about becoming a member but they wanted diplomas and all that and were slightly hauty so I decided not to bother..maybe I`ll live to regret that... Anyway. .... there is a little group of houses there that I liked the look of.Again .Silly me . No shade. So I nestled in as much as I could to a bank of Palms with fronds poking me all over the place and defiantly proceeded. The light on the canvas was still unsettling with the shade of Palms fronds over my white canvas.I was very pleased that I didn`t give up and managed to settle down and actually enjoy it a bit more even with people coming up to me .Slowly the place came alive with the Newlyn Christian Fellowship trying to attract customers to mums and dads walking there dogs and children to some young kids playing football. By the time the fellowship had packed up my tummy was rumbling so I packed up to. Starting to like oil a bit more too. This is unfinished as I hav`nt touched it .

I went out again to Newlyn.Getting a Cornish pasty on the way.I am probably going to go back again and again as it is such a good spot and a great place to learn without being bothered by onlookers as it is a bit secluded.. I feel like such an amateur and realize I`m really out of touch with painting from life. I don`t want to be a `formal` type painter but I still want to have basic knowledge under my belt.

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Plein air painting while great fun is a whole new thing .At the moment my kit is a problem as I need something more portable. Shade and the direction of the Sun is always important especially at present with the hot sunshine and finally where to paint. Three times now I have driven out of my drive not knowing whether to turn right or left and three times I have eventually found something. This is today's work at the siding or old slipway of Newlyn Harbour.

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

This morning I went to St Ives . I found a spot near Porthmeor Beach which is the one with the Tate in.But, it was too hot so I headed back.Determined not to fail in my mission to get some Plein air work done I headed towards St Just. Not long after leaving I found a field that looked a possibility. I parked up by the road and off I went . Then the heat again .I need shade.After walking round the field a while realized I may not get shade so headed back to the car.I then said a little surrender prayer while walking and avoiding the cow pats.I was guided to a small wind blown thorn bush that was in flower and offered the perfect spot. I love it when I surrender.I painted what I saw and here it is a little homestead well actually a quite large homestead;I`d like to live there at any rate above St Ives. The little black spots in the clouds are small dead flies.Mt lesson for today is that shade is important and prayer is doubly important.

Monday, 1 June 2009

Didn`t get any outdoor work done today as I had to wait in for a delivery that didn`t turn up so very frustrating . I`ve been working on the harbour scene in between chores and got a little carried away with the paint.Having a BBQ with our lovely neighbours Dawn, Simon and the kids later so expect to get a little squiffy.